Having a Red, White & Blue Time!

The 4th of July is quickly approaching. It's a time for history sharing, picnics, fireworks and fun food...

Let's make that food red, white and blue!

Let's kick it off with a celebration of red, white and blue frozen yogurt on a stick. These frosty delights are healthy and patriotic!

If you already have molds, that's great... I've discovered that they make all kinds from the popular "rocket mold" to 3-tiered "sand castle-style"... and of course, there's the old standby of the old-fashioned flat molds. If you need help in finding some of these more elaborate molds, just leave me a post and I'll be glad to share some resources with you.

What no molds in your cupboards? You can still make this recipe! All you need is paper cups and Popsicle sticks! Let's get the kids in the kitchen and get these yummies in the freezer... the kids will love making them as it's kinda like coloring Easter eggs! Here we go...

Patriotic Pops!

3 cups vanilla yogurt
Red food coloring
Blue food coloring
6 wooden sticks

Note: This recipe will make 6 Patriotic Pops... if you want or need to make more, simply double the recipe.

Divide yogurt into three small bowls and tint as follows:
Tint 1/2 cup of the yogurt with red food coloring
Tint 1 1/2 cups with blue food coloring
Leave the remaining 1 cup of yogurt plain.

Fill each cup with 1 tablespoon red yogurt, followed by 2 tablespoons white yogurt, then 3 tablespoons blue yogurt. Insert a wooden stick and freeze the pops until firm.Note: Let the pops freeze at least 4 hours before devouring! Have a "cool" red, white and blue!

Getting kids in the kitchen,
Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach for Kids

Little Easter Eggs Hiding in the Grass...

All righty... the Easter Bunny is just around the corner and the blessed day of Easter is fast approaching!

If there's a lot of cooking going on at your house during this Holy week, the kids are going to want to help and you're going to want to keep it simple. So let them stir this up and be a part of the celebration.

Oh... I forgot to tell you... this is a pudding ice cream dessert... might be nice if you knew what the kids are going to be stirring up!

Here's what you'll need:

1 4-serving-size package instant chocolate pudding

2 cups milk (make sure the milk is extra cold!)

1 pint mint chocolate chip ice cream, softened

1 cup miniature marshmallows... get the pastel ones so they look like Easter eggs!

Flake Coconut (optional)

Green food coloring (optional)

8x8x2-inch pan

Measure out the ice cream and put it on the counter to soften.

Place the pudding mix in a large bowl and let the kids stir, stir, stir until the pudding begins to set up. Now add the softened ice cream. Teach the kids how to "fold in" on this one... yes,they will simply stir it! The end result will be the same... :-)

Put the pudding mixture in the pan. If you want to get fancy, using a little jar, place some coconut in the jar and a drop or two or green food coloring. Let the kids shake, shake, shake the jar and they will have green Easter grass! Voila!

Sprinkle the "green coconut" on top of the pudding and then sprinkle the marshmallows on top. It looks like little Easter eggs hiding in the grass!

Now pop this creation into the freezer. When serving, let it stand for about 15 minutes before cutting into squares. The kids are gonna love it!

Get Kids Cooking!

Jan McCracken, Culinary Coach for Kids